Aluminoxane process
AssigneeEthyl Corporation
InventorScott A. Bottelberghe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Hydrocarbylaluminoxanes, especially methylaluminoxane, having high catalytic activity in the polymerization of olefins are made in high yield and low gel content by impinging (1) a solution of a hydrocarbyl aluminum, e.g. trimethyl aluminum, in an inert solvent, e.g. toleune, with (2) a water dispersion in an inert solvent (e.g. toluene) in a T-shaped reactor such that the hydrocarbyl aluminum and water immediately react to form an aluminoxane solution which is promptly removed from the T-shaped reactor through its third arm. The water dispersion is formed by passing a solvent/water mixture through a static mixer which comprises a plurality of deflection vanes forming a tortuous path through the static mixer causing extremely turbulent flow.
Claims19
A process for making a hydrocarbyl aluminoxane, said process comprising:
- (A) forming a solution of about 1-30 weight percent of a hydrocarbyl aluminum compound in a dry inert hydrocarbon solvlent,
- (B) conducting an inert hydrocarbon solvent containing 0.25-5.0 weight percent of a separate water phase through a static mixer comprising a plurality of deflection elements which provide a tortuous path through said static mixer thereby dispersing said water in the hydrocarbon solvent to form a water dispersion,
- (C) conducting both (1) said hydrocarbyl aluminum compound solution and (2) said water dispersion at a velocity of about 0.5-20 ft/sec to a reaction zone whereby said hydrocarbyl aluminum compound solution and said water dispersion enter said reaction zone and co-mingle, one with the other, and react to form a hydrocarbyl aluminoxane solution further characterized in that the ratio of aluminum atoms to moles of water entering said reaction zone is in the range of 1:1 to 2:1, and
- (D) promptly removing said hydrocarbyl aluminumoxane solution from said reaction zone through an outlet conduit at a rate such that the total residence time in said outlet conduit is from 1 milisecond to 1 minute.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.